Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Sizzleness&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Sizzleness’ characterized by its multicolored medium sized blooms with pink/cream ray-florets and green disc florets, with a response time of 52 days.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Sizzleness’ is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a decorative type flower, a 7.5 week response and a medium plant height (1 m). The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant. ‘Sizzleness’ is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintained under the control of inventor. The female parent is #96.1260 and the male parent #97.0324, both unpatented plants form the proprietary seedling collection of the inventor. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in 2001.The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Sizzleness’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2001 in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized multicolored blooms with pink/cream ray-florets and green disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 52 days. After the long day period to flowering growth retardants were applied 2 to 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with pink/cream ray-florets and green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Sizzleness’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 26 and week 16 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Sizzleness’ is ‘Spring’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,934). When ‘Spring’ and ‘Sizzleness’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed.

The inflorescence of both varieties consists of a small center of disc florets, surrounded by several rows of quilled ray florets. The differences of ‘Spring’ and ‘Sizzleness’ are (I) Number ray florets. The number is in ‘Spring’ larger than in ‘Sizzleness’. (2) Color ray florets. The color is in ‘Spring’ pink, while this is dark pink with a cream edge in ‘Sizzleness’.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Sizzlenesss’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995. TABLE 1 Botanical Description of cultivar ‘Sizzleness’ Bud Size Medium, cross-section 0.6 cm height 1 cm Outside color Yellow-green 150D/Purple-violet 80D Involucral bracts 2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among Not present disc-florets Involucral bracts color Green 138B Bloom Type Decorative Height 3 cm Size Medium Fully expanded 6 cm Number of blooms per stem Average of 18-20 Performance on the plant 5 weeks Seeds (if crossed) Produced in small quantities, oval shaped, grey-brown 199A, 2 mm in length. Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slight Peduncle length Near the top 14 cm, near the middle 13 cm, near the bottom 12 cm Peduncle color Yellow-green 148A Color Center of the flower Immature Yellow-green 149A Mature Yellow-green 154C Color of the ray-florets Upper surface Purple-violet 80C/Yellow 4D Lower surface Purple-violet 80D/Yellow 4D Tonality from Distance A spray mum with pink/cream flowers and green disc Color of upper side of ray Purple-violet 80C with Yellow 4D at edges florets at aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 100 Shape Elongated quilled Longitudinal axis of Straight majority Length of corolla tube Long; 2.5 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 3 cm Ray-floret width 0.3 cm Ratio length/width High Shape of tip Rounded Disc florets Disc diameter 0.8 cm Distribution of disc florets Few, only visible in mature stage of flowering Shape Tubular Color Yellow-green 154C Receptacle shape Domed raised Reproductive Organs Stamen (present in Thin disc florets only) Stamen color Yellow-green 144 B Pollen Produced in small quantity Pollen color Yellow 7A Styles (present in both Thick ray and disc florets) Style color Yellow-green 150C Style Length 4 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 145 D Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant Form A spray mum meant for erect culture Growth habit Upright Growth rate Medium vigor Height 90 cm Width 28 cm Internode lenght 2-3.5 cm Spray formation Cylindrical Stem Color Yellow-green 148A Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem Anthocyanin Absent coloration Flowering Response 52 days (photo-periodic controlled crop, not natural season) Foliage Color immature stage Upper side Green 137B Under side Green 138C Color mature stage Upper side Green 137A Under side Green 138A Color midvein mature leaf Upper side Yellow-green 145C Under side Yellow-green 148C Size Medium; length 15 cm, width 7.5 cm Quantity (number per 30 single stem) Shape Elliptic Texture upper side Fleshy and glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Dentate Shape of Base of Sinus Diverging Between Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Rounded Lateral Lobes Shape of Base Obtuse Apex Mucronulate Petiole Length 2 cm Petiole Color Yellow-green 145C

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison variety ‘Sizzleness’ ‘Spring’ Number of ray florets 100 224 Color of ray florets Purple-violet 80C with Purple 75B to 75C Yellow 4D at edges 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 